MetService issues orange rain alert for Bay of Plenty and Rotorua into Friday

More rain is still on the way, MetService warns. Photo / Michael Craig

A thunderstorm warning issued for the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua has now been lifted, but an orange rain warning remains in place.

MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, including Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, South Waikato and Matamata-Piako at 3.30pm.

At 3.30pm, weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near southern and broader areas of the Kaimai Range, Pyes Pa and Oropi, MetService said.

The warning was lifted just before 5pm.

MetService warns heavy rain and downpours were still on the cards for the area as an active low moves over the country from the west.

Conditions should ease somewhat in the following couple of days but will not return fully to the settled summer weather everyone’s hoping for, MetService said.

Bay of Plenty and Rotorua are under an orange heavy rain warning until 11am Friday.

“Many areas in the North Island have broadscale heavy rain today, but on top of that, those areas also have the risk of localised shorter-lived downpours,” MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said.

“Both of these can cause flooding, with the downpours often tipping it over the edge.

“While the action dies down over the next couple of days, unfortunately it’s not beautiful, hot, clear-skied summer weather, Lyons said.

After the warmer temperatures last week, the coming days will feel much chillier, particularly around New Zealand’s eastern coasts.

Maximums for Napier and Gisborne will struggle to reach 20°C from Saturday, with Canterbury maximums sitting around 15°C.

“Peering ahead for Wellington Anniversary Day, Kāpiti and Horowhenua up through Whanganui look to be sunnier than Wellington itself, so a road trip and beach day may be on the cards for Monday,” Lyons said.